“I really hope Watsi will support me and that my treatment will be successful so that I can support my children and see them grow,” says Vonta, a 38-year-old single mother of two from Nairobi. Vonta works as a house cleaner, and barely makes enough money to support herself and her children. For over a year Vonta has suffered from uterine fibroids, a condition that causes heavy uterine bleeding and lower abdominal pain. The fibroids are affecting Vonta’s ability to care for her family; she explains, “This bleeding and the pain is making it difficult for me to go to work.” Without treatment, Vonta’s fibroids will continue to grow and she will be at risk for anemia. A fellow Watsi patient brought Vonta to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), to seek help. For $790, Vonta will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her multiple intramural fibroids. According to her doctors at AMHF, after the procedure Vonta will be relieved of bleeding, anemia and pain, and will be able to resume work and raise her children.

Meet Phalla, a 49-year-old farmer who lives with her husband, four sons, and daughter in Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us: “Phalla has a pterygium in both eyes that gives her burning sensations and makes her vision blurred.” A pterygium is triangular growth of tissue in the eye that extends from the inner or outer corner of the eye toward the center. The tissue appears as a white or pink membrane on the surface of the eye. It often is not noticeable until it begins to cover the iris—the colored portion of the eye. Symptoms include discomfort and blurry vision, both of which Phalla is experiencing. “Phalla no longer goes to the farm because it is too uncomfortable for her to be outside for long periods. Her face is also red and puffy from all the scratching she does,” shares CSC. With $150 in funding, Phalla will undergo surgery to remove the pterygium from each of her eyes. Funding also covers medication and post-operative follow-up care. CSC tells us that, after surgery, “Phalla will no longer have problems in her eyes.” Phalla looks forward to regaining her independence after surgery. She plans to return to the farm and to sell groceries to make money for her family. Let’s help fund Phalla’s eye surgery!